Toledo, Ohio – March 24, 2011 – July 1, 2011 is the centennial of the S.S. Willis B. Boyer Museum Ship and also marks the date she will be rechristened to Col. James M. Schoonmaker. This event marks the beginning of a three day Centennial Celebration sponsored by the Toledo Blade which will include a visit from the Privateer Schooner LYNX, a historic Toledo Club boxing event aboard the ship and the annual Red White Kaboom fireworks presentation.
On July 1, 2011, the Boyer, wearing her original Shenango Furnace Co. livery, will be rechristened to her original namesake, Col James M. Schoonmaker, by James M. Schoonmaker II and his wife Treecie, at the exact moment his mother Gretchen V. Schoonmaker christened the vessel 100 years earlier. Also in attendance for the rechristening will be William P. Snyder III, grandson of the vessel's original owner William P. Snyder who was best friends with the colonel and thus named his flagship after him. The christening will officially mark the beginning of the three-day Centennial Celebration and the downtown Toledo Fourth of July festivities. Further details regarding the planned activities will be announced in the near future.
In preparation for the S.S. Willis B. Boyer’s upcoming centennial this summer, the vessel has been undergoing major restoration. As the future centerpiece of the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum in Toledo, the Great Lakes Historical Society see's great value in achieving the vessel's complete restoration for her 100th anniversary. This project will mark the first major step towards the national museum's creation, and demonstrates the society's firm commitment to the Toledo region.
In February, Precision Environmental of Cleveland, Ohio began utilizing the $200,000 U.S. EPA RLF Cleanup grant awarded to the City of Toledo last year, which marks the first step in the Boyer's restoration. The next phase in the restoration will begin on April 4, 2011 and will be conducted by P&W Painting Contractors in conjunction with the Painters Local 7, where they will begin the completion of sandblasting and repainting of the ship above the waterline.
Two major material sponsors for the project include PPG Marine Coatings, which will be donating nearly all of the coatings needed to complete the priming and top-coating of the vessel, and Harsco Inc. which will be donating all 130 tons of Black Beauty sandblasting media. Other sponsors include Warner Petroleum, Geo. Gradel Co., Seaway Scaffolding and Samsel Supply.
Two benefactors who have made this project possible and will underwrite all associated expenses are the James M. Schoonmaker Foundation and Great Lakes Historical Society. James M. Schoonmaker II, grandson of the vessel's original namesake, has donated $100,000 to the restoration effort through the James M. Schoonmaker Foundation.
It is the mission of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to continuously leverage our strategic geographic position, resources and economic development proficiency to provide increased business opportunities—built upon and around our innovative transportation and logistics expertise—while promoting our community and region within the global marketplace. We will accomplish this through unmatched speed and efficiency of service, collaborative and strategic partnerships, community stewardship and the continued generation and execution of new ideas and innovations.
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